California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A driver created deadly chaos on the 210 Freeway on Monday afternoon, traveling 20 miles going the wrong way in the westbound lanes, sometimes at more than 100 mph, and causing several collisions, one of which killed another motorist, the California Highway Patrol said.

The eastbound lanes of the 210 between Towne Avenue and Base Line Road in Claremont remained closed late Monday; Claremont police warned drivers to avoid the area if possible because of heavy congestion spilling onto city streets during the evening commute. A notice on a Caltrans traffic map estimated the freeway closure would last until midnight, with the Town Avenue onramp possibly closed until 12:45 a.m.

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol diverts traffic as investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

The nightmare began in San Bernardino about 3:40 p.m. and ended in Claremont about 3:52 p.m. The Los Angeles County coroner responded to the fatal collision, according to the CHP log.

Several other motorists were injured, including the suspect, CHP Officer Jesus Garcia said. A helicopter landed on the freeway near Base Line Road to pick up patients. There was no immediate word on the condition of the surviving patients, Garcia said.

The first 911 call was from someone reporting that a pickup truck had been stolen. The driver, a woman whose name was not available, entered the freeway at North State Street near the 215 in San Bernardino, Garcia said.

Several other 911 callers reported she was reported doing donuts, driving on the shoulder and cutting in and out of the carpool lane and the center divider at 80 mph, according to the log.

As the driver neared Fontana at North Alder Avenue, her speed was estimated at 100 mph, the log said. She crashed just west of Base Line in Claremont, the log said. Traffic came to a halt after the wreck.

Four tow trucks were called to clean up the scene. The wrong-way driver had to be pulled out of the pickup.

She could face charges of reckless driving and grand theft auto, as well as charges related to the death and injuries to the other motorists, Garcia said.

Darius Cottrell, 48, of Rancho Cucamonga had just picked up his son Camren from Claremont High and was headed home in the eastbound carpool lane.

Cars began exiting the lane and then, Cottrell said, “Two cars ahead of me moved abruptly. All of a sudden I saw a big truck coming at me. I jerked to the right. I saw (the wrong-way driver) keep going about 80 mph. The first thing I did was say, ‘God, thanks,’ because my son and I would have been done.”

After Cottrell got home, he spoke with his oldest son, who said he was on the freeway as well and heard the collision from a mile away. That son received an email from one of his professors at San Bernardino Valley College who said he was injured in the crash and was headed to a hospital.

Cottrell’s voice broke as he reflected on the incident.

“I’m pissed because this person almost cost my son’s life and my life,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense at all. Now another family is not going to see its relative because someone made a choice to take a life.”

Brian Rokos writes about public safety issues such as policing, criminal justice, scams, how law affects public safety, firefighting tactics and wildland fire danger. He has also covered the cities of San Bernardino, Corona, Norco, Lake Elsinore, Perris, Canyon Lake and Hemet. Before that he supervised reporters and worked as a copy editor. For some reason, he enjoys movies where the Earth is threatened with extinction.

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